Senior Matthew Cortes receives the Angels College Scholarship, awarding him a fully funded education to any college or university. He chose to commit to the University of Southern California (USC) and study under the Viterbi School of Engineering.
“It was a huge milestone because it was like a testament to my parents, but also for the future,” said Cortes.
The Angels College Scholarship is a four-year renewable scholarship covering the full cost of education and tuition. It was created by the Angels Baseball Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting education by investing $3 million into scholarships for local youth.
“He’s very involved in extracurriculars and he’s a scholar in the classroom. Not only does he want a better himself, one of the things the Angel’s Scholarship looks for is that they’re leaders within their peers, and they’re not just about helping themselves out, but others,” said his Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher and close mentor Lorena Pérez Sánchez.
This year, only 26 of 178 applicants received the scholarship after demonstrating high academic achievement, commitment to pursue a higher level of education, and financial need. In addition to excelling academically, Cortes also holds strong values of determination, resilience, and dedication. He’s involved in several extracurricular activities including, AVID, National Honors Society, Interact, Orchestra, Simon Scholars, and Breakthrough.
“If you feel like you put your heart and soul out, you put that passion into it, for you the decision, sure it might affect you but at least you know that you did everything in your power,” said Cortes.
After submitting his initial application, Cortes was invited to his first interview in March and advanced to his final interview in April. The process was undeniably challenging, requiring thorough preparation and professionalism at every stage.
“Don’t care what others think, just do your own thing, put yourself out there, because you never know what doors that’ll open and create for you,” said Cortes.
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be nominated by their AVID program. Cortes has been in AVID for seven years and was even honored as his middle school’s AVID eighth grade stand out.
“They’ve always pushed me to be someone better, to have that perseverance. Whenever times are tough, when they’re challenging, they were always there encouraging me to keep on moving forward even if it meant a small step at a time” said Cortes.
Cortes expressed his gratitude for all his AVID teachers who’ve dedicated their unwavering guidance and mentorship, from helping him navigate the scholarship application process to preparing mock interviews.
“He’s already thinking how he wants to come back and give back to the community, to San Juan Hills, to AVID, because he feels that not just AVID but our school has helped mold him into the man he is now,” said Sánchez.
With USC’s rising tuition and cost of education, it currently sits as the 9th most expensive university in the U.S. reaching $100,000. This scholarship significantly eases the burden, allowing him to pursue his ambitions without financial limitations.
“Just continue to be an inspiration to those around you, and keep making your parents proud and all of San Juan Hills proud,” said Sánchez.
Looking forward, Cortes plans to study aerospace engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, as it aligns with many of his values, including service to better his community. Through the Viterbi K-12 STEM Center, USC engineering students expand STEM opportunities to schools in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Cortes hopes to serve as that connection to encourage aspiring STEM students.
“Estamos muy orgullosos de ti, and keep doing what you’re doing, you’re going to be successful, and we’re excited to see you when you return,” said Sánchez.
